John B. Macy (March 25, 1799 – September 24, 1856) was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

. Macy was born in

Nantucket, Massachusetts Nantucket () is an island about south from Cape Cod. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the Town and County of Nantucket, a combined county/town government that is part of the U.S. state of Massachuse ...

, where he received a liberal education. He moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

in 1826 and later in that year to

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...

. He resided in

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

from 1842 to 1845. Macy was one of the founders of

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...

, and one of the proprietors of the Rock River Valley Union Railroad (the state line to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin). This line was the beginning of the

Chicago and North Western Railway The Chicago and North Western was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western". The railroad operated more than of track at the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states befor ...

. Macy moved to Fond du Lac in the

Wisconsin Territory The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin. Belmont was ...

, in 1845 and engaged in the real estate business, acquiring land from

Philip Hone Philip Hone (October 25, 1780 – May 5, 1851) was Mayor of New York City from 1826 to 1827.Minutes of the Common Council of the City of New York, 1784-1831. Volume XV, November 10, 1825 to December 25, 1826'. New York: City of New York, 1917. p. ...

, the mayor of New York City. Several street names in Fond du Lac, such as ''Macy Street'', are named for Macy and members of his family. He moved with his family to the town of

Empire, Wisconsin Empire is a town in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,620 at the 2000 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.1 square miles (75.5 km), of which, 2 ...

, near Lake de Neveu, in 1850. Macy's home, built near what became Highway 45, still stands. Its original outbuildings include a hexagonal library. Macy was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to represent

Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district covers most of the Driftless Area in southwestern and western Wisconsin. The district includes the cities of Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Stevens Point, as well as many Wisconsin-based exurbs of the Minneap ...

at the

33rd United States Congress The 33rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1853, ...

(March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855), but was unsuccessful for re-election in 1854 to the

34th Congress The 34th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from March 4, 1855, ...

. Following his failure to be re-elected, he resumed his former business pursuits.

Death

Macy lost his life in the burning of the steamer ''

Niagara Niagara may refer to: Geography Niagara Falls and nearby places In both the United States and Canada *Niagara Falls, the famous waterfalls in the Niagara River *Niagara River, part of the U.S.–Canada border *Niagara Escarpment, the cliff ov ...

'', near

Port Washington, Wisconsin Port Washington is the county seat of Ozaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on Lake Michigan's western shore east of Interstate 43, the community is a suburb in the Milwaukee metropolitan area 27 miles north of the City of Mil ...

Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...

on September 24, 1856. The ''Niagara'' was a sidewheel passenger steamer, one of the luxury vessels known as 'palace steamers', which sailed the Great Lakes in the years from 1844 to 1857. On September 23, 1856, the ''Niagara'' left

Sheboygan, Wisconsin Sheboygan () is a city in and the county seat of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 49,929 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a populatio ...

, for Port Washington. Fire broke out on board at around 4pm, causing the steam engines and the ship's giant paddlewheels to stop. The steamer, which was 4–5 miles offshore, quickly became engulfed in flames and smoke, and the passengers panicked while trying to board the lifeboats. Many jumped overboard into the water, which was reported to be too cold for anyone to survive in it. Despite rescue efforts, over 60 people died in what was one of Wisconsin's deadliest transportation disasters. The wreck of the ''Niagara'' lies in 55 feet of water one mile off

Belgium, Wisconsin Belgium is a village in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. Located along Interstate 43, the village is one of the northernmost communities in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The population was 2,245 at the 2010 census. Beginning in th ...

. Macy was last seen on board exclaiming "We're lost! Oh God! We're lost!" His body was never recovered.

References

Other sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Macy, John B. 1799 births 1856 deaths Accidental deaths in Wisconsin Deaths due to ship fires Deaths from fire in the United States Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin People from Empire, Wisconsin People from Nantucket, Massachusetts People lost at sea